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Bligh rejects Labor's bank commission push

Former Labor Premier Anna Bligh has rejected her party's calls for a banking royal commission, after signing on to be the next chief lobbyist for Australia's major banks.

Ms Bligh was on Friday announced as the new chief executive of the Australian Bankers' Association, the peak lobby group for the banking sector.

The former Queensland premier immediately put herself at odds with federal opposition leader Bill Shorten, who has repeatedly called for a royal commission into the banking sector.

"Personally, I've always believed you get more done inside the tent and that's why I'm excited about the opportunity to lead and shape a very compelling package of change and reforms," she told ABC radio on Friday.

She said the federal government had already responded to the public's demand for a better and more trustworthy banking system.

"I think it's clear the government has heard those calls and that's why they've established a number of enquiries that are currently underway," she said.

Nationals MP Andrew Broad raised questions about her appointment, saying the role may have been better suited to a career banker and not a politician.

"I think it gives more credibility to be clear of politics, I suspect," he told AAP.

But Queensland Labor Senator Murray Watt, who was Ms Bligh's chief of staff when she was Premier, saw nothing wrong with the appointment.

"I think Anna's displayed she's got a lot of ability in the corporate sector ... and she's obviously impressed people in the corporate community," he told AAP.

The ABA cited Ms Bligh's leadership and community service when it announced she would become the group's first female CEO.

"She is highly regarded and respected by community, political and business leaders and understands the need for all stakeholders to work together to deliver the best outcome for customers," chairman Andrew Thorburn said.

Ms Bligh, 56, was Australia's first popularly elected female premier but left parliament in 2012 after her government suffered an historic loss, leaving politics and moving to NSW with her family.

The following year she revealed she had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer and was photographed with no hair for The Australian's Women's Weekly as she bravely fought the disease.

This year, Ms Bligh was appointed a Companion to the Order of Australia for her eminent service to the Queensland Parliament, her contribution to education reform and her advocacy of women's roles in public life.